Keynote Speakers
Supervisor Dave Haubert, Alameda County, District 1
During my time in office, Mental Health has been a top priority. Making sure that our most vulnerable population throughout Alameda County have access to resources is key. As a former school board member and a father of 3, the well-being of children has always been at the top of my list. Mental disorders in children can drastically change the way children learn, behave, or handle their emotions. I wanted to make sure parents are aware and informed. I have hosted town halls in Dublin and Livermore students and Fremont students; this was to inform parents and students of the available programs in their school district with the assistance of Alameda County. I’m proud to say that during my time as Mayor along with my council colleagues our city of Dublin was the leader in bringing Axis Bridge to all of the residents in the Tri-Valley. Axis Bridge will be a triage to many, in a time of crisis.
As the mental health crisis continues to worsen, it is critical that we depend on reliable and resourceful community organizations. People need help to cope with the root causes of their mental health challenges and active paths to healthy living. NAMI's approach to promoting recovery by preserving and strengthening family ties, and their programs and services including grassroots outreach, are to be applauded.
Alanna Powell, President & Founder, BoldlyMe
Alanna will talk about the impactful partnership between BoldlyMe and NAMI Alameda County South, both working together to meet the needs of our community. Alanna's journey includes being a survivor of Alopecia Universalis, a condition that has required her to develop coping mechanisms to overcome its challenges. Her impressive career in the high-tech industry as a change agent, engineering, and PMO manager for prominent companies like Hewlett Packard, Yahoo!, and Redwood Systems exemplifies her commitment to success and empowerment. Alanna currently manages Cybersecurity/Information Security and SOC compliance programs at Juniper Networks.
Her vision is to help people transcend emotional trauma stemming from differences related to birth conditions, medical treatments, injury, disease, and self-perception. Alanna seeks to empower individuals to embrace their uniqueness, pursue their dreams confidently, and fearlessly be their authentic selves.
BoldlyMe's mission centers on educating, mentoring, and supporting individuals to achieve their full potential while fostering community awareness and individual self-esteem. The organization believes in embracing diversity and celebrating individuality, ensuring that feeling or being different is embraced both by individuals and society.
During her presentation, Alanna will highlight the valuable work that BoldlyMe and NAMI Alameda County South are doing together, serving our community's needs and promoting self-empowerment and acceptance. We are excited to have her share her experiences and insights at our walk.
Community Leaders
Supervisor Elisa Márquez, Alameda County, District 2
Honorary NAMIWalks Chair, Speaker, and Supporter
Elisa is committed to uplifting all residents, listening, and collaborating to help all local communities thrive, and working to ensure economic mobility for all. She will continue to dedicate herself to championing policies and initiatives that create safer, more sustainable, and engaged communities with affordable homes, vibrant libraries and community spaces, services for residents who are homeless, small business expansion, quality jobs, and services that help improve the quality of education so all young people can access a path to success in college, careers and life.
Deeply rooted in the East Bay, Elisa lives in the same south Hayward home that she was born and raised in to become who she is today. Outside of her tireless work on behalf of the people of Alameda County, Elisa is a proud mother of an adult daughter and enjoys spending her free time with her family and big puppy, Zito.
Senator Aisha Wahab, California State 10
